Incidents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) residents trying to cross over the Line of Control into the Indian side came to light but they were made to go back to their side.
Army sources told ANI that there have been incidents in the last two-three weeks in Poonch sector where PoK residents tried to come onto a river bed that acts as the boundary but alert Indian troops asked them to return to their side. Top sources said the Indian Army took up the matter with their Pakistani counterparts at both the local and higher levels to resolve the matter.
The Army troops are keeping a close watch in the area and are alert to any such incidents.
Sources said announcements have also been made from mosques in the villages across the LoC in the area to restrain PoK citizens from going to the Indian side for activities such as lifting sand and grazing cattle.
Indian Army is alert in this area as this has been one of the main hotbeds of infiltration attempts and on many occasions, the villages right next to the LoC have been used for infiltration by terrorists backed by Pakistan Army.
Sources said Indian Army has conveyed to their counterparts that if villagers come close to the Indian side, it would be difficult for soldiers to distinguish between civilians and infiltrators which can create issues.
The matter has come up and the two armies are working towards resolving the issue, Army Sources said.
India and Pakistan have been observing a ceasefire agreement for more than a couple of years and it has been observed by both sides to a large extent.
The LoC is a heavily militarised zone on both sides and an Indian soldier lost his life in a landmine blast in the Poonch sector itself, Army officials in the area confirmed. (ANI)
